Surprise frontrunner emerges in LeBron James sweepstakes

LeBron James seems to be near a decision.

If the latest update on his free agent sweepstakes is true, James will sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers after leaving the NBA on its toes since he informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would be leaving the franchise.

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Teams reportedly interested in the four-time NBA champion aren’t optimistic about their chances of landing James, according to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst.

“I’ve talked to people in Philly, and I’m like what do you think? Everybody I talk to is like, ‘we’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’” Windhorst said on the Pardon My Take podcast.

“Nobody seems like they have optimism.”

Returning to Cleveland was always the storybook ending for James since he began his career with the Cavaliers.

At 41 years old, James is still a productive player as he is coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He shot 51.5% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc in 60 games with the Lakers.

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The 2025–26 campaign marked the first time James had missed opening night for the first time in his 23-year NBA career because of a sciatica injury. Despite missing the start of the season, James played a crucial role for the Lakers down the stretch after Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sustained injuries in the final weeks of the regular season.

James spearheaded the Lakers’ postseason run, which ended in the second round of the NBA playoffs after the Oklahoma City Thunder swept LA in four games.

The Game 4 loss to OKC marked James’ final game in a Lakers uniform.

Now, it appears the next chapter for James may be a poetic one as Cleveland appears to be the winner of his free agency sweepstakes.

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